Day 83 - Duncan, Arizona
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Day 83 and I had to make a big decision today. I'm over here still stressing about the legality of skating so much interstate, and it looks like several hundred miles of nothing but that if I continue on the 10 towards Tucson. I heard from fellow cross-country skateboarder, John Underhill- that this was the stretch of road that he got pulled over the most, and I didn't want to deal with it. I made the call to divert my route Northwest and towards Phoenix, Arizona. This decision was difficult, and it made for a longer trip, but some of the roads ahead, though scary as hell, were the most rewarding. As I pushed forward, I had a system where I had a second bag that I could carry with my arms, to reduce pressure on my neck and back. It was difficult at first to find my center of balance, but I needed some relief from my neck pain. I was seriously concerned that I was developing sciatica and would be left with permanent nerve damage. I had a lot running through my head and had to stay focused on the road, so this was my best compromise. I skated to a cute little town; Duncan, Arizona. This was the 11th state that I skateboarded through! I found an interesting desert plant to paint before sundown and I gotta say, desert sunsets just hit different. Since I'm taking the time to make art daily, it's been easy for me to notice the subtle color shifts in the sky. While one side turns peachy warm tones, there's almost a bit of purple around the opposite side of the horizon. Another breathtaking view to get me exited to skate into the night. I lucked out and called ahead to get the last room in town. I gifted my daily tiny painting to the woman who got me set up in the hotel, and grabbed dinner at a restaurant across the street. Real food and a nice bed are becoming ming things I can appreciate more as the journey goes on...
